asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what recent discussions he has had with the BBC concerning medium-wave broadcasting in the South West; and if he will make a statement.

I am currently examining the possibility of duplicating on medium frequency the BBC's South West programme now transmitted on very high frequencies only.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he has now reached a decision about the use of the fourth television channel in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

No. The allocation of the fourth channel in Wales cannot be considered in isolation but, as the White Paper just published states, separate consideration is being given to the question of a fourth television channel.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will seek powers to require the broadcasting authorities to supply transcripts of broadcasts to interested parties, on the payment of a reasonable fee.

The IBA already supplies transcripts to those who ask for them. For the BBC with two television channels and four national radio services the position is more complicated, so it limits the supply to people responsibly involved in the subject dealt with in a programme.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will introduce legislation to ban the importation, manufacture, distribution and sale of single fixed frequency radios.

No.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will take steps to arrange that postage from Great Britain to the other members of the EEC is charged at internal rates.

No. Postage rates are a matter for the Post Office in the first instance.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will ensure that any inquiry into broadcasting hears evidence from a wide cross section of the industry and general public.

I would refer to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) and others.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the practice of his Department, in administrative matters, regarding the definition of the term "Head of the household" or an equivalent term; and what benefits or allowances are available when the requirements of that status are met.

The term has no significance in relation to the functions and responsibilities of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many people in each county in Wales suffer from physical handicap (other than spina bifida, muscular dystrophy and spasticity) in the following age groups: (a) under 16 years, (b) 16 to 20 years of age, and (c) 20 to 25 years of age;(2) how many people are spastics in each county of Wales in the following age groups: (a) under 16 years, (b) 16 to 20 years of age, and (c) 20 to 25 years of age;(3) how many people suffer from spina bifida in each county of Wales in the following age groups: (a) under 16 years, (b) 16 to 20 years of age, and (c) 20 to 25 years of age;(4) how many people suffer from muscular dystrophy in each county of Wales in the following age groups: (a) under 16 years, (b) 16 to 20 years of age, and (c) 20 to 25 years of age.

Information in the form requested is not collected centrally. Returns are received annually showing the number of handicapped persons registered with local authorities. These are classified under groups of major handicaps, which do not separately identify spina bifida, muscular dystrophy and spasticity. I shall send the hon. Member copies of the latest returns.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations have been made to him to abolish the regional employment premium in the Northern Region; and what would be the total financial loss to industry in the region if the premium is phased out by 1974.

None. It is not possible to assess the net cost to industry of withdrawing the premium since it is treated as a revenue receipt for tax purposes and the net effect will vary from firm to firm.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he has had with industry in the Northern Region in respect of the regional employment premium.

The Government will be consulting both sides of industry during the period ahead about implementation of the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor in his 1972 Budget speech that REP would be phased out from September 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in aligning its generalised preference scheme with that of the EEC, Great Britain will be accepting the principles of the EEC scheme, even though precise details still remain to be worked out.

In current discussions about the alignment of the United Kingdom's generalised system of preferences with that of the EEC the starting point is necessarily the existing Community scheme but with the summit directive, calling for an improvement in generalised preferences, well in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of the output of the British coal industry in each of the past five years at constant prices.

Estimates are as follows:

Total value of output of the deep-mined coal industry at 1967–68 prices
	£ million
1967–68	800
1968–69	730
1969–70	680
1970–71	640
1971–72	510

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many motor cars were manufactured in Great Britain in each of the past three years; and how many were exported.

The information is republished in the current issue of Trade and Industry dated 8th March; page 525.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the amount of private investment in manufacturing industry in 1971 and 1972, respectively; and what level he anticipates in 1973.Sir G. Howe: On the basis of the provisional estimate for the fourth quarter of 1972, the volume of manufacturing industry's fixed capital expenditure in 1972 is estimated as £1,359 million at 1963 prices. The corresponding estimate for 1971 is £1,514 million. The forecasts provided by manufacturing industry in November/December 1972 to the Department of Trade and Industry suggested a rise in 1973 in the range of 2 to 5 per cent. followed by a strong increase in 1974.More recently, as noted in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1973–74 (Part I, paragraph 23), the inquiry carried out by the Confederation of British Industry suggested a stronger picture for 1973.An increase in 1973 around the upper end of the range suggested by the Department of Trade and Industry's intentions inquiry now seems likely.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on the most recent ruling given by the European Court of Justice on the beer supply system to a chain of tied houses; and how this ruling will affect the monopoly situation in the British brewing industry;(2) if he will list the provisions of the Treaty of Rome that relate to the beer supply system, and indicate the changes that will be needed in the system operated by British brewers in relation to tied houses in order to bring it into conformity with the requirements of the treaty.

Administration of Article 85 of the Treaty of Rome is a matter for the European Commission. The Commission will no doubt take into account any relevant ruling of the European Court and any other relevant matters in considering the tied-house system of beer supply in the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the individual brewery companies he has met to discuss the implications of the Monopolies Commission report on beer supply; when he will be in a position to announce his proposals for changes in the present licensing and supply system; and if he will make a statement.

The Brewers' Society has usually represented the brewing industry in discussions about the Monopolies Commission's report on the supply of beer. My officials have in addition had contacts on matters arising from the Commission's report with Allied Breweries, Bass Charrington, Greenall Whitley and Whitbread. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is not yet able to announce his views on the report of the Erroll Committee on Liquor Licensing which was published only in December 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will institute an inquiry into the consequences of regional employment and consumer choice of the projected closure of 14 regional breweries as a result of the growth of monopolies in the brewing industry.

I am seeking further information and hope to be in a position to answer this Question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes there have been in the monopoly position of the brewery industry since it was reported on by the Monopolies Commission in 1969.

The Commission found that monopoly conditions prevailed in the supply of beer because at least one-third of the beer supplied for retail sale in the licensed premises in the United Kingdom was supplied by persons who restricted competition in that, as owners of licensed premises, they prescribed the brands of beer which could or could not be sold in those premises. No brewery company or group of interconnected brewery companies individually had a monopoly through supplying one-third of the market. This is still the case. Though some major brewery companies have increased their share of the market somewhat since the Commission reported none is believed to supply more than about one-fifth of the market for beer in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will revise the criteria governing references to the Monopolies Commission so that all bids within the brewery sector will be referred for scrutiny.

I am satisfied that no changes are needed other than those provided by the Fair Trading Bill at present before Parliament. I shall continue to examine carefully all brewery mergers, as others falling within the scope of the relevant legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy in regard to special development areas and the purchase of land from local authorities for industrial expansion by private development companies.

We do not seek to influence local authorities which plan to sell land in these circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the number of new jobs estimated in the Bedlingtonshire UDC area for 1973–74 and how many of these he estimates will come from private development companies.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the number of new jobs made available in the Bedlingtonshire UDC area each year since its scheduling as a development district in 1965.

Accurate figures are not available owing mainly to the lack of information on the service sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on the work of the task forces set up to deal with specific areas arising from steel plant closure proposals.

The five task forces—at Shotton, Cardiff, Ebbw Vale, Hartlepool and Workington—have all held a number of meetings and are consulting a wide variety of local interests, including the trade unions, British Steel Corporation, local authorities and other interested parties. I expect to receive the report of the Workington task force in a few weeks' time. Interim reports from the other task forces are expected next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is free to undertake retiming of steel plant closures, or modify his proposals in the investment programme he has announced to take into account a review of the closures, without consulting the EEC.

Responsibility for such decisions rests with the corporation, though it would consult me about any major changes to the investment strategy already approved by the Government and obtain Government approval to each annual investment programme. There is no requirement to consult the Commission but all Community steel undertakings have an obligation under the Treaty of Paris to notify significant investment proposals or reductions in production capacity to the Commission in advance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will subsidise local authorities whose areas are affected by aircraft noise to enable them to meet in full the cost of double glazing of homes occupied by a single person or a married couple who are pensioners.

Noise insulation grants schemes at airports, such as Heathrow, which come within the responsibility of my right hon. Friend are financed not by local authorities but by the airport authority. At Heathrow, the maximum grant available to all those eligible, including pensioners, is already 100 per cent. of £360 in certain areas very close to the airport, and elsewhere 75 per cent. of £275. Additionally, a 100 per cent. grant is available in all areas of the scheme in cases involving persons, otherwise eligible for grant, who are in receipt of the higher rates of attendance allowance. The question of extending the 100 per cent. grant to cover all pensioners was carefully considered when the terms of the Heathrow scheme were reviewed and improved last year but it was decided that such an extension could not be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received the report of the Monopolies Commission on the supply of chlordiazepoxide and diazepam.

Yes. The report will be laid before Parliament and published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many citizens from Hong Kong have applied for work permits in the United Kingdom since 1st January 1971 to the most recent convenient date.

I have been asked reply.From 1st January 1971 to 31st December 1972, 1,387 applications for employment vouchers were received in respect of Commonwealth citizens resident in Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many citizens from Hong Kong have been refused work permits in the United Kingdom since 1st January 1971 to the most recent convenient date.

I have been asked to reply.Between 1st January 1971 and 31st December 1972 there were 807 cases in which vouchers were not issued following applications in respect of Commonwealth citizens resident in Hong Kong. In some of the cases another method of admission was appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish her reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Salford, East, regarding the delays in replacing primary schools occurring because of cost limits still in force on school building, and quoting two Salford schools where the lowest tenders exceeded the gross cost limit by £33,503 and £20,718.

Following discussions with the local education authority, the two projects have been approved to start as planned in 1972–73. My noble Friend will be writing to the hon. Member, who is free to publish the letter if he wishes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many United States citizens she estimates are currently studying in United Kingdom universities, polytechnics and other institutions of further education; what is the total cost to the British taxpayer of these students; and what is the average payment in respect of each student at each type of educational institution.

It is estimated that the numbers of United States citizens studying in United Kingdom institutions were:

	Academic years
	1970–71	1971–72
Universities	2,492	2,600
Further education:
Advanced	73	124
Non-advanced (excluding evening institutions)	186	193
Colleges of education	17	—

It is not possible to assess the total cost of these particular students. In the financial year 1970–71, the average costs per student to public funds for all students in education institutions in England and Wales were as follows:

Current expenditure excluding maintenance grants.	£
University	1,124
Advanced further education	799
Colleges of education (excluding residential accommodation	482

For non-advanced further education the cost figure was £349, but this average includes costs of students at evening institutes.United States students, like other overseas students, are charged higher fees than home students, and the average costs to the taxpayer quoted above might, therefore, in their case, be reduced. Reliable figures are difficult to arrive at, but the reduction might be of the order of £150-£180 for universities and advanced further education. United States students in colleges of education are charged the full economic cost of tuition. For non-advanced further education students the overseas fee is £150. The fees for home students vary widely but are generally substantially less than £150.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has received any representations under Section 68 of the Education Act 1944 with regard to the exercise of powers and duties under the Act by the Governors of Brooklands Technical College, Weybridge.

I have received a number of letters complaining about a recent decision by the governors of the college only to reprimand three junior members of staff. I am awaiting a full report from the local education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on progress towards the establishment of a teachers' general council.

The initiative in this matter now lies, as I think it should, with the teachers' associations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the salary range for a teacher with an ordinary degree in each of the past 10 years.

For an assistant teacher in a maintained school—other than a special school or a school of exceptional difficulty—outside the London area the figures are:

From 1st April	£
1963	730–2,030
1965	830–2,210
1967	900–2,350
1969	965–2,497
1970	1,085–2,617
1971	1,207–3,005
1972	1,335–3,489

NOTES:1. The figures do not relate to deputy head teachers and head teachers The 1972 maximum relates to the new grade of senior teacher.2. The maxima include, for 1963, increments for training; and, up to 1970, the highest head of department allowance, which, from 1971, was consolidated into a new scale.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of classes in primary schools in Staffordshire has 30 or more pupils; and how this figure compares with the previous two years.

In January, 63 per cent. in 1972, 68 per cent. in 1971, and 71 per cent, in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many four-year-old children attend nursery school in Staffordshire; and what proportion this is of all four-year-old children in Staffordshire.

In January 1972, there were 479 full-time and part-time pupils aged four in maintained nursery schools in Staffordshire, together with 1,874 in maintained primary schools. Together these numbers were equivalent to 16£8 per cent. of births in 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers are employed in the local education authority special schools of England; and if she will make a statement.

In January 1972, 11,424, including the full-time equivalent of part-time teachers.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the current salary of the head of the Home Civil Service, and what is the total size of his salary increases in each of the past five years.

The current salary of the head of the Home Civil Service is £16,750 per annum.The table below shows the changes in the salary of the head of the Home Civil Service since 1st September 1965:

Date	Salary	Increase
	(£pa)	(£pa)
1st September 1965	9,200
1st July 1969	10,400	1,200
1st July 1970	12,700	2,300
1st January 1971 (voluntarily waived till 1st July)	15,000	2,300
1st January 1972	16,750	1,750

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the highest, lowest and average salary rate of those civil servants within the Portsmouth area to whom Sir William Armstrong's recent message on industrial action by civil servants was sent; and whether he will make a statement.

Information about salaries related to particular areas could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether arrangements have been made to ensure that those civil servants who absented themselves in order to take part in the dispute on 27th February will have their pay stopped for the relevant period.

Yes.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service why he will not invoke the Industrial Relations Act to deal with the industrial dispute affecting the civil servants.

Circumstances have not so far arisen in which I consider it would have been appropriate to invoke the Industrial Relations Act.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the added responsibilities which the Welsh Office now has in protecting the interests of Wales in Europe, he will now appoint an additional junior Minister to that Department.

No. Unless and until I make a statement to the contrary I do not propose to appoint or dismiss any Minister or to increase or reduce the number of Ministers in any Department.My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has taken action by setting up a European Division to co-ordinate the European work of the Welsh Office and to ensure that Ministers receive comprehensive advice on the various European issues which affect Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will request the new Food Prices Panel to investigate the current retail price of cheese.

It is intended that, when stage 2 of the price and pay policy comes into operation, cheese will be treated as a processed product. This means that those engaged in the manufacture or distribution of cheese in the United Kingdom will be subject to the requirements of the Price and Pay Code, which will be administered, so far as foodstuffs are concerned, by the Food Panel of the Price Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the percentage increase in the retail price of all cheeses, or of all of which he has information, in the United Kingdom between 20th February 1971 and 1972, and to the most recent convenient date.

The Department of Employment's General Index of Retail Prices indicates that the price of cheddar cheese —all varieties—rose between 16th February 1971 and 22nd February 1972 by 48 per cent.; and between 22nd February 1972 and 16th January 1973—the latest available date—by 4 per cent. Retail prices of individual varieties are not collected for the purpose of the index.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the retail prices of all cheeses, or of all of which he has information, in the United Kingdom on 1st February 1971, 1972 and 1973, respectively.

The Department of Employment's General Index of Retail Prices shows that average prices of cheddar cheese—all varieties—on dates nearest to 1st February were:

	p. per pound
19th January 1971	20·4
18th January 1972	29·1
16th January 1973	31·9

Retail prices of individual varieties are not collected for the purpose of the index.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the quantity of wheat that has been denatured in the United Kingdom since 1st February 1973.

About 17,000 tons was denatured in admixture during February, but the Intervention Board has not yet received returns and claims from compounders in respect of wheat incorporated into animal feeding stuffs during that period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what

MEAT AND MEAT PREPARATIONS
			Imports		Exports
			£m.	'000 tons	£m.	'000 tons
1963	…	…	312·9	1,392·1	8·5	27·3
1964	…	…	368·4	1,429·7	13·3	40·1
1965	…	…	367·7	1,396·8	12·0	34·0
1966	…	…	374·3	1,332·5	14·2	40·7
1967	…	…	372·0	1,370·2	11·4	32·3
1968	…	…	398·4	1,375·7	8·5	21·9
1969	…	…	432·1	1,424·0	17·1	46·7
1970	…	…	437·8	1,291·2	21·3	56·7
1971	…	…	464·9	1,312·5	23·4	61·9
1972 (Provisional)	…	…	540·0	1,314·5	49·4	99·2

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those countries from which Great Britain imports meat and meat preparations which are not primary producers; and if he will name the countries of origin.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Totnes (Mr. Mawby) on 9th March 1973.—[Vol. 852, c. 216.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of the scientific investigations into the nature and source of the current outbreak of swine vesicular disease.

The cost of scientific investigations into the nature of the disease and the source of infection is estimated to amount to £73,000 to the end of February 1973. Research into the characteristics of the disease is continuing. The greater part of this figure does not represent additional costs to Departments, but is the cost of resources diverted to this investigation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the cost to the taxpayer to date of compensation paid to those pig farmers whose herds have ben compulsorily slaughtered during the current swine vesicular disease outbreak.

The following are the figures, which include re-exports:

Total compensation paid and to be paid for pigs slaughtered up to 11th March 1973 is £746,000.

asked the Attorney-General if the Government now intend to implement the recommendations in the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee's Report on Legal Aid; and if so, when.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis), on 26th February.—[Vol. 851, c. 1059–61.]

asked the Attorney-General what was the cost to the State for legal aid in divorce cases in the last full year.

In the year 1971–72, legally aided matrimonial causes cost £4,766,980, excluding the cost of administration.

asked the Attorney-General if he will give the numbers of men and women, respectively, now in office who have been appointed to legal positions by Her Majesty's Government, and including judges, Queen's counsel, stipendiary and lay magistrates and official referees; and if he will detail the respective offices.

The number of men and women respectively holding the appointments mentioned are:

	Men	Women
High Court Judges	72	1
Circuit Judges (including 3 former official referees)	230	4
Queen's Counsel in practice	292	1
Recorders	318	4
Stipendiary Magistrates	48	2
High Court Masters and Registrars	47	1
County Court and District Registrars	124	0
Lay Magistrates (approximate)	13,525	7,450

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing

				All occupations	Manual occupations	Non-manual occupations
Number employed	…	…	…	5·4 million	2·0 million	3·4 million
Average earnings per hour	…	…	…	53 ·5p	43 ·lp	59·8p
Average hours per week	…	…	…	37·3 hours	38·6 hours	36·6 hours
in percentage terms
Number employed	…	…	…	100 per cent.	36·6 per cent.	63·4 per cent.
Average earnings per hour	…	…	…	100 per cent.	80·6 per cent.	111·8 per cent

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met the Chairman of the Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Industry.

On 21st December 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action is taken to inspect and examine safety regulations and first aid provisions in Merseyside timber yards and mills; if he will take steps to improve the same; and if he will make a statement.

These premises are visited by Her Majesty's inspectors of factories in the normal course of their

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 8th March 1973.—[Vol. 852, c. 189–190.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures of the estimated number of women in full-time employment with hourly earnings in manual and in non-manual occupations, respectively, given as percentages of the total.

The latest estimates relate to April 1972 and are obtained from the New Eearnings Survey. They cover those women aged 18 and over in Great Britain who were employed for more than 30 hours, excluding main meal breaks and overtime, in a normal week, or in the case of school teachers 25 hours or more. They are subject to sampling errors.duties to look into the standard of compliance with the various safety regulations and first aid provisions under the Factories Act. If, however, the hon. Member has any particular point in mind perhaps he will write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers and percentages of unemployed, by sex, in the mid-Northumberland local employment area at the latest available date; and how these compare with the national figures.

On 12th February there were 2,924 males and 515 females unemployed in the area covered by the Alnwick, Amble, Ashington, Bedlington, Blyth and Morpeth employment exchanges. The rates of unemployment were 7.4 per cent. for males and 2·7 per cent. for females. In Great Britain there were 596,739 males and 120,781 females unemployed and the rates were 4·2 per cent. and 1·4 per cent. respectively. The figures are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) which bodies have been set up by the present Government to deal with pay and manpower matters; and what are the numbers that each employs;(2) what are the total numbers employed by the Office of Manpower Economics; and how many reports it has published since its inception in 1971.

In November 1970 the Government set up three review bodies to advise on top salaries and the pay of doctors and dentists and the Armed Forces. At the same time it established the Office of Manpower Economics, to provide a secretariat for the review bodies, to service ad hoc inquiries on pay problems and to carry out research on pay and manpower questions. At 1st January 1973 the OME employed 53 staff.Since January 1971 the office has published three reports based on research into pay questions and a fourth is to be published tomorrow.An Employment Service Agency has been set up within the Department of Employment to develop the public employment services, on the lines set out in "Employment and Training: Government Proposals" (Cmnd. 5250). Paragraphs 35 to 38 of Cmnd. 5250 describe the proposed arrangements for staffing the Employment Service Agency and the Training Service Agency, and the Manpower Services Commission which has yet to be constituted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements he proposes to make to ensure that the Manpower Services Commission will be adequately informed of future manpower requirements.

My Department and the Commission will need to work closely together on this. Precise arrangements for information about future manpower requirements will need to be worked out when the commission is established.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the general effect of the draft Council direction No. 2018/72 (ES 141) dated 22nd February 1973 indicating, in addition, the Departments concerned, the effect it will have on United Kingdom law, the policy implications and the date when it is likely to be considered by the Council of Ministers.

The information requested by my hon. Friend is of the kind which the Select Committee on European Community Secondary Legislation has recommended should be furnished in regard to draft Community instruments. I would, therefore, ask my hon. Friend to await the statement which my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House is to make tomorrow, 13th March, on the Committee's interim report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement of Her Majesty's Government's intentions following the recent decision of the International Court that it had jurisdiction in the present dispute between Her Majesty's Government and Iceland over fishing limits.

The International Court of Justice has set the date of 1st August 1973 for the submission of our memorial on the merits of the dispute. We are now engaged in preparing this memorial.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to change the name of British Honduras; and whether he is taking steps to advise the alteration of the Letters Patent of the Governor and preparing legislative proposals to this end.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government have agreed to the changing of the name of British Honduras to Belize; and if he will make a statement.

A Bill to change the name of British Honduras to Belize was introduced and given its First Reading in the British Honduras House of Representatives on 23rd February 1973. Subject to its passing through both Houses of the British Honduras Legislature the Bill will, in accordance with the provisions of the British Honduras constitution, have to be reserved by the Governor for signification of Her Majesty's pleasure.Until Her Majesty's pleasure is known, it would be premature to take any steps to prepare amendments to the Letters Patent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he now has the provisional figures for crimes of violence in 1972;(2) if he now has the provisional figures for murders and manslaughter killings in 1972.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to his Question on 13th February.—[Vol. 850, c. 310.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what percentage the provisional figures for crimes involving the use of firearms in 1972 exceed the comparable figure for 1967.

The provisional number of offences recorded as known to the police in England and Wales in 1972 in which firearms were fired, used as a blunt instrument to cause injury or damage, or used as a threat, was 161 per cent. higher than the number recorded in 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing how many police have been injured and how many arrests have been made in connection with picketing during industrial disputes each year since 1950.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable on the effect of distributing the booklet "Police and Public" in the Bournemouth area and how it has been received by the public; and if he will make a statement.

The leaflet was supplied to police forces in 1965, following a recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Police that there should be a standard brief explanation of the complaints procedure available to the public. The Chief Constable of Dorset and Bournemouth tells me that since then the leaflet has been available to the public at all police stations in Bournemouth; that a copy is invariably given to a complainant; and that he has not observed any general effect on or the reaction from the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to encourage younger voters to register for parliamentary and local elections.

Particular attention is paid to 16 to 18-year-olds in all the publicity which is given to the canvass and to the need to check the electors lists when they are on display. Special features aimed at young people last year included one which was broadcast on BBC Radio London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, for each year, the punishments inflicted since 1957 on persons convicted for what were, in 1957, capital offences.

The table below gives, for England and Wales, information relating to persons found guilty of murder. Any murder was a capital offence until 21st March 1957, when the distinction between capital and other murder introduced by the Homicide Act 1957 came into effect. There is no record of a conviction since 1957 for any other offence which was capital in 1957.The table does not include—because they cannot be reliably identified—persons found guilty of offences other than murder who would have been found guilty of

SENTENCES IMPOSED ON PERSONS FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER IN ENGLAND AND WALES
Year						Person*found guilty	Death*	Life imprisonment	Detention during Her Majesty t. Pleasure {aged under 18)
1957	…	…	…	…	…	40	18(2)	21	1
1958	…	…	…	…	…	30	9(5)	20	1
1959	…	…	…	…	…	42	6(5)	35	1
1960	…	…	…	…	…	42	8(5)	33	1
1961	…	…	…	…	…	51	7(5)	40	4
1962	…	…	…	…	…	31	4(2)	27	0
1963	…	…	…	…	…	46	4(2)	39	3
1964	…	…	…	…	…	44	7(2)	37	0
1965	…	…	…	…	…	57	15(0)	40	2
1966	…	…	…	…	…	72	—	70	2
1967	…	…	…	…	…	63	—	60	3
1968	…	…	…	…	…	74	—	68	6
1969	…	…	…	…	…	75	—	69	6
1970	…	…	…	…	…	97	—	87	10
1971	…	…	…	…	…	97	—	87	10
*The numbers ultimately executed are shown in brackets.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders have been shot dead by the police in the course of their felony since November 1965; and how many were shot dead in the eight years previous to November 1965.

I regret that reliable statistics could be obtained only by asking individual forces to check their records for the past 16 years. I do not think this would be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, from information available from international sources, he will publish the following information for the years 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 (or the nearest year), 1950, 1960, 1970; the GNP per head of population, the percentage of GNP devoted to investment, the percentage of GNP devoted to personal consumption, the percentage of

I regret that information for all the years specified is not available. National accounts data from international sources are available only from 1950, and the information required for this period is set out in the first table below. The USSR and Poland compile their national accounts on a different basis from that prescribed in the United Nations System of National Accounts, with the result that figures of GNP are not available for those two countries.Separate figures for the percentage of population employed in agriculture alone are not available. The figures given in the table relate to agriculture, hunting, fishing and forestry. The second table contains details of the official exchange rates to the £ sterling of national currencies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the annual cost to the Exchequer of a concession whereby in an estate where a life interest only passes to the surviving spouse estate duty would be payable on the death of the surviving spouse and not the death of the testator.

The cost would depend on the extent to which legislation based on the proposal encouraged such arrangements. This cannot be forecast. But on the assumption that the maximum advantage were taken, the cost would be about £125 million in the first full year. This cost would be gradually reduced in later years by the resultant increases in duties paid on the death of the surviving spouse.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether assessors with suitable artistic qualifications will be co-opted to sit on value added tax tribunals under Section 40(1) of the Finance Act 1972 in order that disputes regarding the authenticity, eligibility, repair and similar matters of works of art and antiques may be decided authoritatively.

Following normal judicial practice, members of VAT tribunals will act as arbiters. Assessors may be called upon to give evidence to a tribunal where necessary.